Clothesline holder



Patented July 2, 1929.

JOHN W. gronansnn, orwnsr new YORKQNEW JERSEY.

GLO'II-IESLINE HOLDER.

Application filed December 18, 1928. Serial No. 326,740. H

' My invention relates to a clothes line holder;;that is to a device to be applied to one end of a clothes line, in order to support the line and toenable the operator to readily take up the slack of the line from time to time as required.

More particularly stated, my invention comprehends a clothes line holder of ayery compact and simple form, having relatively few parts; and which is strong and reliable in action, and of such construction that its parts can be readily standardized for purposes of quantity manufacture at a relatively low cost.

My invention further contemplates a number of specific improvements in the construction of clothes line holders, all tending to promote the general efficiency of the device.

My improved clothes line holder is well adapted for general use, not only in con nection with ordinary clothes lines but also upon ropes and cords employed 1n other relations.

My device is well adapted as an article to be sold at prices customarily charged in so-called five-and-ten-cent stores, for practically any article sold therein.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification and in which like reference characters inclicate like parts throughout the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through my improved clothes line holder, and shows a portion of a rope serving as a clothes line.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device, the clothes line being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 4c is a section on the line 4. of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. V

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a clothes line equipped with my device.

A body member 6 is provided at one of its ends with an eye 7, these two parts as here shown being integral,,and preferably a casting.

The body member 6 is further provided with a portion 8, formed into a head as shown, and through which extends a channel 9.

Merging into this channel 9, and extend ing therefrom out flush to the adjacent end of the head 8 are a pair of grooves, 10, 10.

Bounded by the channel 9 and the grooves 10, 10, is a massive portion 11, which extends across the head and serves as a crossbar.

A leaf spring 12 is by means of screws 13 secured to one end of the body member 6.

The leaf spring 12 carries a pawl 14, secured to one of its ends by a screw 15.

The pawl let is substantially cylindrical, and extends loosely into the opening 9, which elliptical.

The pawl is provided with a face 16, which is corrugated, as shown.

A rope 17 serves as a clothes line, and extends directly through the channel 9, in suitable position to be engaged by the corrugated face 16 of the pawl, and forced by pressure of the pawl against the adjacent portion 11 of the head 8.

The parts are so proportioned, arranged and adjusted that when the clothes line is drawn tightly in one direction relatively to the clothes line holder, as normally happens when the line is in ordinary use, the line is clamped firmly between the pawl and the adjacent portion 11 of the head, as indicated by full lines in Figure 1; but when the line is drawn in the opposite direction, as indicated by dotted lines in said figure, it is loosened and practically disengaged from the clamping action of the pawl.

Thus when the line is pulled in one direction the pawl is, by virtue of the tension of the line, forced tightly into the opening 9, and when the line is pulled in'the opposite direction, its tendency is to withdraw the pawl. from the opening 9.

I11 order to take up the slack of the clothes line at any time, the operator simply grasps the free end portion of the line, andby pulling hard upon it he draws a portion of it through the channel 9; then upon relaxing the free end portion of the line, the line as a whole is locked in a new position by action of the pawl.

The operation of my device may be readily understood from the foregoing description.

The various parts being assembled and arranged as above described, the device is ready for use.

Whenever the operator wishes to tighten. the clothes line or take up its slack, he proceeds as above described. 7

In order to disengage the clothes line altogether from the clothes line holder, the operator grasps the free end of the line, and by pulling upon it, withdraws and thereby He can then readily dis- 'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is as follows:

A clothes line holder comprising asingle integral body member provided with an opening extending therethrough and with a cross portion partially bounding said opening, a pawl connected with said body meni- 1 ber and extending into said opening for the purpose of engaging a clothes lines extending therethrough, said pawl being provided with a face for engaging said clothes line.

and further provided, opposite said \face; with a surface for fitting agalnst said cross portion. Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 14th day of December, 1928.

' JOHN W. J OHANSEN 

